Kiddie Pool

The past few days have been really hot. So hot, in fact, and yielding much to my going crazy, it was better (if not safer) staying indoors.

But who wants to be cooped up at home on a weekend when there are places to go, things to be doing? By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, and realizing that in a short, few hours we'd be back at work, we braved the 95F degree heat and headed for the swimming pool.

About 5 minutes from our home is a local park that has a pool - a large one, and a small one for kids. A small admission fee later (kids under 3 go in for free) and we were soaking in the warm water, baking under the summer sun. Sorry, no pictures.

After getting Ethan all lotioned up with sunscreen, we were well on our way to splashing around in the water and having some fun. At least given what Ethan normally does during bath time I expected this from him. But, no. Instead, Ethan was content just wading in the pool, very apprehensive about moving even a step or two away from me (or Kelly).

It wasn't long when someone recognized us. A coworker noticed Kelly and immediately joined us at the kiddie pool, and other kids followed. This only made Ethan more clingy, intently staring down anyone who dared come close to him. When a couple children left the small pool for the bigger one, the renewed or vacated space was destined for exploration.

With trepidation at first, Ethan took his first step in the water (as if learning to walk for the first time all over again). I have to say, even now, walking and running, Ethan doesn't have the greatest of balance. He's a wobbly kid, always prone to tripping over (himself). A few minutes later, Ethan was splashing! Ethan was laughing. Ethan even tried to "dunk" his head under water. Actually, it started first when Ethan tripped and his face went under water. Not really "knowing" what to do, I took my hand to his head and just pushed his face back above (water) surface. Gasp. Sputter. Whine. And a couple more of these incidents, then Ethan started getting the hang of having water up his nose and in his eyes and ears. Not until all this did he start trying to get his face under water intentionally, which later on reduced to kissing the water surface, to stopping 2 inches from the water altogether.

An hour was all we could manage, and probably for the better. Still wet with my shorts, and wrapped in a towel, we got back in to our car and drove home.